Page 29 of The Cowboy's Miracle Baby

“That’s true.” As Riley confided her Christmas list to Santa and the elf snapped her photo, Ella seemed charmed by the whole thing and stood with her hands clasped under her chin, waiting for her turn. Was she actually going to sit on the old guy’s lap for the sake of her friend?

Being a single dad with a kid like Eloise was a real balancing act. Starting back with her mom’s loss, he’d always tried to be honest with her and knew she counted on that. That had brought them closer, he believed. So, when it came to the truth about Santa, it had seemed like an easy call. The truth seemed easier than the lie. But if Lissa was still here, he knew things would be… different.

Derek and Carrie Garfield snapped copious photos of their daughter who gladly accepted the candy cane from the old man in the chair. But it wasn’t until it was Eloise’s turn that she turned and met his eye. She wasn’t asking permission, exactly. But maybe simply his complicity as she approached Santa. Gus moved closer trying to hear their conversation. He might need some help in the present department.

“Well, now, I seem to remember you,” Santa told her. “But it’s been quite a year for you, hasn’t it? Did you like the books I brought you last year?”

Ella’s expression flattened. “You didn’t. I already know.”

“What is it you think you know?” he asked patiently.

She leaned close to Santa and whispered something in his ear. Surprise crossed the old man’s expression. Then a smile.

“That’s all right,” he said, quietly. “A lot of people think that. But you see, I don’t need you to believe in me. Just in the idea of me. Because I know who I am. And I’m as real as you are. Now. Why don’t you tell me what you really want this Christmas?”

She shrugged her shoulders and glanced back at Gus. “I just came for the candy cane,” she whispered, “and ’cause Riley still believes in you.”

“I see.” He pulled one out of his bag. “But as long as you’re here”—he held it out to her and her fingers closed around the plastic wrapped mini-sweet—“you might as well tell me what it is you really, really want, Eloise. And I’m guessing it’s not a skateboard, or a doll, or even a Barbie dream house, is it?”

Now, her eyes widened as she shook her head. “But how did you know my nam—”

“It’s a big request, instead, isn’t it? And you think I can’t do it.”

Ella nodded slowly. “I know you can’t.”

Gus watched the other children in line fidgeting for their turns. What was she talking about?

The bearded old man leaned closer to her. “You can whisper it if you like. We’ll keep it between us.”

She heaved a heavy sigh before leaning close to Santa and whispering something else in his ear.

A wry smile grew on the old man’s face. “Ah. Now. Thatisa big wish, my dear. But I’ll see what I can do. You just keep the faith. That’s all I ask. I might just surprise you.”

She nodded a quiet goodbye to him, too shy to say it aloud.

“See you soon,” he promised.

Clutching her candy cane, Ella hurried away from the old man in red and ran to Gus’s side.

“What was that about?” Gus asked. “I thought you didn’t believe in Santa Claus.”

“I don’t.” But she was watching, with a strange look on her face, as the other children climbed happily onto Santa’s lap to tell him all their Christmas wishes.

“What did he say to you?” Gus asked as they walked away.

“He said…” she began. “Oh, never mind.”

He glanced back at the man on the Santa throne who was watching him as well and the old man winked at him as a little boy tugged at his very real beard.

Chapter Seven

Gus, Eloise, andLuke stood in the cold at the Hardesty’s front door holding bottles of wine and a basket full of hot chocolate and marshmallows. His heart skipped a little beat at the sight of her as she opened the door, looking just as pretty as she had in his mind.

“You’re just in time!” she said, welcoming them into the warmth of the house. “Please, come inside. It’s freezing out there!”

She air-kissed Gus on both cheeks in welcome and did the same to Luke who grinned widely.

“It was real nice of you to invite me.Us.” Luke’s gaze scoured the high-ceilinged room with its rough-hewn beams and the fire crackling in the fireplace. There was Christmas music playing, and he seemed to inhale the fragrance of what Sarah had cooking in the oven. “I do a lot of cooking, but nothing I make smells that good.”

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